The Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 161 A New Rcwinder. Mr. Bazil Gilmer, operator at Royal Theater, Gatesville, Texas, has invented what he says is a perfect rewinder for all projectors. I have had so many tell me this same thing that brother Gilmer will have to show me. Send in a model of your invention, brother, and if it is what you claim, I will be only too pleased to set the matter forth at length in the department. Good Projection Wins. Mr. R. W. Rhea, Palacios, Texas, writes: Am operating in a small town and it is only through good projection we are able to exist. Ten shows in succession failed before we entered the field. Most likely the operators who preceded me did not read the department or keep the handbook on tap. In adjusting carbons I always use the reflection on the outside shutter and I find it a success. It works the same as a pin hole punched in the lamphouse, the lens taking the place of the pinhole. Of course, you can only use this while the machine is in motion. By the way, Mr. Bug behaved scandalously in one of the titles I ran last night Good projection will win anywhere, as against the other kind. I think I would prefer the pin-hole myself, though your scheme can be used all right. What Would Happen. Mr. George S. Steidel of Steidel & Pugh Ideal Theater, Pottsville, Pa., tsks: Will you kindly give me your opinion as to the following: If 2,000 feet of film caught fire and burned to ashes in a lower magazine in a Power's 6A Cameragraph, what would the damage have been to the head of the machine? If 2,000 feet of film burned to ashes in the lower magazine of the Power's 6A, or any other mechanism, the machine itself would not be worth to exceed sixteen and two-thirds cents. In other words it would be ruined? There is a possibility that with a very tightly wound film the thing might smolder; that is to say; burn slowly and gradually char, without any large amount of blaze escaping from the magazine, assuming, of course, that the magazine door is closed and that it is not forced open by the gases or entirely destroyed by the heat In this event the mechanism itself might not be very badly damaged, but I hardly think such a thing is possible. My opinion in the matter is that the machine would be ruined absolutely and totally. The gears and possibly the frame itself might be melted, or at least warped clear out of shape. Dark, Deep, Dense Mystery. Mr. Henry Lacy, Cincinnati, Ohio, comes across with the following: In Feb. 15th issue we read that Cincinnati is the proud possessor of a lady operator, but up to date cannot locate the four bunches of grapes containing the exit lights, as per description. She must perform outside the city, because we have no lady license holder. Our sympathies go out to poor Muriel. Why doesn't the other partner take the main work, or maybe he is born t-i-r-e-d and supports the suffragist movement as an easy way out? They tell me that since the publication of that article, Cincinnati operators have been haunting the highways and by-ways with a dark lantern in one hand and a spy glass in the other, looking, longing and seeking for Muriel and the four bunches of grapes. Never mind, old man, I will not give the snap away (I am talking to the husband now, gentlemen). I would, however, suggest that you send four bunches of grapes up to the next meeting of the Cincinnati Operators' Union by messenger, with the compliments of Muriel. It's a Fine Scheme. Mr. W. F. Van Allen, New York State, requests that the name of the town be not given and writes: February 19 I opened as fine a little theater as you will find any time in a town of two thousand. Some scheme that, on page 86, March first issue (Brother Van Allen refers to the farmer-ticket advertising scheme. Ed.). I had no sooner read it than I got busy. Fifty cents each was about the limit with the merchants, but I tied them up to try it for four weeks, and then had 600 tickets like the attached printed. I supply the merchants with these tickets :<5 BUSINESS MEN'S FREE TICKET For Farmers Only to Midget Theatre^ Good Only Saturday Afternoons VT. T. VanALLEN MANAGES and collect Monday. Last Saturday was the first day and I had as fine a class of people as one would wish. The theater was comfortably filled; besides I had more paid admissions than on the previous Saturday, because they brought their town friends with them and they, of course, paid. Our local editor gave me a splendid write-up on the scheme, without cost, after which I paid ten cents per inch each week; It did not hurt my Saturday night business at all, and many farmers live on the trolley line, too. Comment is unnecessary. Undoubtedly the scheme is .a good one in •mall towns located in rural communities. I recommended the plan at the time, and still recommend it. Measuring Condensers. South Dakota orders a handbook and says: The book must be a "scream" if it is anything like the Moving Picture World. I am just starting up here and am installing a Fairbanks-Morse 6 H. P. engine and a 314 k. w. generator, no volts. Have a Power's 5 machine with a 40 foot throw. Am unable to get a good stereo picture, though the M. P. is all right. Use about 30 amperes; $i cored carbons and No. 6 wires. The condenser nearest the light is 6'/,. Do not know what the other one is. How can I measure it? I know I am not displaying much knowledge, but am trying to be honest and learn. Only the fool fears to display lack of knowledge. The wise man ask» questions and acquires knowledge. You will find method of measuring condensing lenses described on page 356 of the handbook. While you have not said what width your picture is, it pretty near a cinch you need two 6J4 lenses on that short throw. Slide Coating. Mr. Amas F. Towne, Soldiers' Home, Washington, D. G, writes: The best opaque slide coating I have found is Indian Red mixed with vinegar to the thickness of cream. Apply this to the glass with a soft brush. It works fine. Many thanks for the formula, Brother Towne. It is passed along to the department fans for experiment. International Union Policy. Mr. Oscar B. Bridges, corresponding secretary Local Union No. 531, I. A. T. S. E., Palestine, Texas, writes: The members of this union are constant readers of the World, particularly the department. We were surprised to read your reply to the Gem Theater manager's letter in a recent issue. We had already taken the matter up with our International President Shay, and his ruling is that no house is considered fair unless a member of the I. A. T. S. E. is employed therein, and at no time is a manager to be permitted to run his own machine; also that the union operator is to have full control of his operating room. Please give this matter consideration and take it up with President Shay, as you know the biggest part of your circulation is among union operators. I send you a list of our officers for the directory. I have already had this matter up with the International President, brother Bridges, and while, as a member of the organization, I must bow to his decisions, as editor of this department it is my duty to take issue even with him, or with the organization itself, when I think it is in the wrong. This is not said in a spirit of egotism. The man who has not the courage of his convictions and will allow his own material interest to stand in the way of telling the truth, and standing for what he believes to be the right, is not a man fitted to hold the position of editor, or to speak with authority on any subject. It now becomes my duty to set forth the proposition fully and clearly as I see it. As applied to Palestine, where there are competing houses, and where there is a local union of operators, the decision of brother Shay is perfectly right, because if one theater in such a city can afford to employ a union operator, the rest can also afford to do it, or else they ought to all go out of business. This is not said with the idea of stamping on anyone's toes, nor is it aimed at any individual, but simply stated as a broad proposition. I will back up brother Shay in his ruling as applied to cities large enough to have a local union, or in cities having competing houses and lying within the jurisdiction of another local. I think in these cases it is only fair, just and right that the manager should attend to his job of managing and employ a competent operator to attend to the operating. Also such a course is for the best interest of the business in general and it insures fair competition among the managers themselves, so far as the projection end of things be concerned. But there is another proposition also included in brother Shay's ruling wherein I cannot altogether agree with him, and that is this: There are many hundreds of villages barely able to support a small theater, perhaps only running two or three nights a week, but where the support absolutely is not sufficient to permit of the employment of an operator at anything like a union scale, or perhaps even at any scale at all. Such houses often can only exist as a family affair. Most likely the manager is also the operator, janitor and billposter, his daughter or wife the pianist; another daughter the ticket seller, and perhaps a son the door tender. On this basis these village "theaters" manage to exist, and there are more of them that you think there are, too. They furnish the little hamlets with a clean, healthy form of amusement, and it would be entirely wrong and absolutely unfair, from any and every point of view, to force them to employ a union or any other kind of an operator. The writer is, as you all well know, heartily in favor of organization, but he believes that union labor must proceed along sane and common sense lines. Just exactly how this particular proposition can be handled I do not know, but I most certainly want to see the matter brought before the next convention and some line of procedure adopted which will be fair and just to every one concerned, provided such a plan can be evolved. I well know the thing is not as simple as it looks, and its satisfactory solution will be very difficult. After the reply to Palestine referred to in brother Bridges' letter was in print I saw that I had not put things exactly the way I intended to. We all make mistakes sometimes, and I placed myself a little bit wrong that time. I trust that I have now made my position in this matter clear, and I believe that all fair-minded men will agree with me that my position is not far from being right. I believe that even brother Shay will, upon mature deliberation, not say that I am wrong, though from motives of general policy he might be inclined to oppose me. I should be glad to hear from some of our union contributors on this point. I must correct you in one thing, however, brother. While we have a very large number of union readers, still the paper reaches practically all , the operators in the country, and as yet but a comparatively small percentage of them are organized. The list of officers appeared last week.